Read More

Gaskin's passenger also spent a week in hospital after suffering two fractured ribs, a laceration to her liver and a large cut to her forehead which needed ten stitches.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Gaskin had come to the attention of police minutes before the 1am collision when he drove off from a patrol car on Tritton Road after the passenger was bundled in to his 4x4 following an argument.

Charlie Gaskin, of Tolney Lane, Newark, has been jailed for three years (Image: Lincolnshire Police)

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said the van driver could only remember waking up in hospital but the collision was seen by a number of witnesses.

Mr Howes told the court one witness estimated Gaskin driving at up to 80mph after describing his vehicle "swaying left to right, and "looking unbalanced."

Read More

Latest news from Nottingham's courts

Other witnesses described Gaskin as "nailing it," estimating his speed as between 90 to 100mph, and said the massive impact "was like a bomb going off."

The court heard the van driver was left hanging out of his vehicle and was pulled away by a witness who feared it might catch light.

Mr Howes said Gaskin ran away from the scene leaving two injured people behind. A police helicopter was mobilised and Gaskin was arrested an hour later after officers stopped a van near Hill Holt wood on the A46.

Gaskin again ran from the scene but was detained by a police dog and taken to hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained during his arrest.

In his victim impact statement, the van driver described the consequences of the collision as a "disaster" for him.